RABIES VIRUS AND ANTIBODY IN BATS IN GRENADA AND TRINIDAD

1 April 1977

journal article
research article
Published by Wildlife Disease Association in Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Vol. 13 (2) , 131-134
https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-13.2.131

Abstract

Rabies virus was detected by fluorescent-antibody and mouse inoculation tests in the brain of 1 bat, Artibeus jamaicensis, collected at La Tante, Grenada [West Indies] on 19 June 1974. No rabies virus was found in the brains and/or salivary glands of 411 other Grenadian bats of 6 spp. tested, including 56 A. jamaicensis. Rabies neutralizing antibody was detected by the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) in 27 of 353 Grenadian bats. Positives occurred in each of the 6 spp. sampled, with 40.5% prevalence in A. jamaicensis. In 11 of 86 Trinidadian bats of 4 spp. known to carry rabies, positive sera occurred only in A. jamaicensis (18.6%) and A. lituratus (8.1%). The potential use of the RFFIT in determining rabies activity is discussed. [The other bat species tested were Anoura geoffroyi Artibeus cinereus, Glossophaga longirostris, Molossus molossus and Sturnira lilium.].

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